Before looking at any individual cats, research what breeds might be best-suited to your home. If you’re adopting, speak to the shelter staff who care for the cats—they know who’s laidback, who’s always ready to play, and who shares your love for ‘90s R&B.

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Prepare Their Bathroom

If you’ve never had a cat before, you might assume you can simply buy a litter box, toss it in the basement and call it a day. This would be a mistake—although they are generally easy-going roomies, cats can be picky about their bathrooms.

“The most problems I see with new cats entering the home tend to revolve around toileting habits,” says Dr. Belinda Parsons, an Australia-based veterinarian. “The rule of thumb is one extra litter box [per] the number of cats in the house. And be aware of where you place it.”

Avoid any high-traffic or noisy areas of the home (if their designated bathroom isn’t peaceful, cats will find a more comfortable place to attend to business), Parsons says. Different cats will have different preferences when it comes to the details, but in general, you’ll want a nice, roomy litter box and unscented litter. And above all, keep it clean—as in very, very clean. Just as you wouldn’t want to use an unflushed toilet, your cat won’t take kindly to an unscooped box.

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Be Scratch-Friendly

There’s no such thing as a cat who doesn’t scratch.

“Cats have a natural need to scratch and release tension,” says Rich. “When they’re reaching up to scratch, they’re releasing stress in their shoulders and they’re leaving their scent.”

If you want to protect your furniture from claws, invest in a proper scratching post, she says. Look for something tall enough that a full-grown cat can stretch out on, and make sure it’s plenty sturdy—one of the alluring things about your couch is that it doesn’t move, unlike flimsy scratching posts.

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Serve a Set Menu

If there was plate of warm brownies on the kitchen table all day, you might have a hard time maintaining your weight. The same goes for cats.

“Not all cats will stop eating when they’re full,” says Parsons. “ I see plenty of well-meaning owners feeding their cats on demand. The problem with this is that some cats are truly like Garfield and have no off switch when it comes to food.”

Instead of leaving a full bowl for kitty to graze on at his leisure, work with your veterinarian to determine set meal portions and times. For a more interactive dinner, Parsons recommends food puzzles that make cats work for their food as they would in the wild.

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Make Time for Play

You don’t have to take your cat for daily walks, but that doesn’t mean he’s content to lounge on the couch all day.

“Many people think, ‘Oh, we don’t have time for a dog—let’s get an easy pet, let’s just get a cat,’” says Rich. “But cats need activity every single day—if you don’t give them something to hunt, they’ll find something, and it might be your ankles.”

To keep your cat happy and healthy, plan to engage him in interactive, vigorous play sessions a couple times a day. To appeal to hunter instincts, Rich recommends toys that mimic prey, such as feathery birds and leather mice.

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Go Vertical

In the wild, cats climb trees to safely observe their surroundings. Although there aren’t predators in your living room, kids, dogs, loud noises and your annoying neighbor count.

“A good, solid, heavy-duty cat tree is almost as important as a litter box,” says Rich. “Cats need vertical space to feel secure and calm.”

If your home doesn’t have room for a cat tree, get creative with lookout points you already have, advises Rich. Clear some space off a bookshelf, create a clear path to the top of the fridge, or install some cat-specific wall shelving.

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Introduce Friendly Pheromones

Even a naturally calm cat can be stressed by a new environment. To help him adjust more comfortably, Parsons recommends aFeliway diffuser, which dispensesan odorless vapor that mimics feline facial pheromone.

“A lot of vet hospitals and adoption centers use them to help relax cats in the clinic, boarding or rescue setting,” she says. “Place it in the area where your cat will spend most of their time, and it will help to settle them into their new home quickly.”

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Make an Appointment with Your Vet

Although your newly-adopted kitty will likely come home healthy and up-to-date on shots, plan to take him to the veterinarian for a little meet-and-greet once you get home.

“This is a great way to get to know your vet before you need to know them,” says Parsons. “And it provides your feline friend with a happy vet visit that doesn’t involve any injections.”

Prepare a list of any questions you have about caring for a cat, and schedule future wellness and vaccination visits while you’re there. The next visit might be more hectic.

Monica Weymouth is a writer, editor and certified Weird Animal Lady. She lives in Philadelphia with her two rescued Shih Tzus. Follow@iproposetoastWebsite